VelocityEHS®, the global leader in enterprise EHS & ESG
software solutions, today launched the next generation of its
patented and award-winning Industrial Ergonomics Solution,
featuring the new 3-dimensional (3D) model for motion capture. The
update utilizes cutting edge research, Artificial Intelligence
(AI), Machine Learning (ML), and neural network technology to
assess musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) risk in 3D with the highest
accuracy and effectiveness in the market.
In 2018, Velocity acquired Humantech®, the leader in industrial
ergonomics and pioneer of the industry’s first sensorless 2D motion
capture technology. This transformation from a 2D to 3D model for
motion capture breaks new ground in the battle against MSDs, the
leading cause of workplace injuries, robbing people of their
livelihoods and costing businesses billions of dollars a year.
“Your people work in a 3D world, your ergonomics solutions
should too,” said Dr. Julia Penfield, VP of Research & Machine
Learning at VelocityEHS. “The new 3D model for motion capture was
purpose-built using our proprietary dataset to train the
technology. Combining AI and ML capabilities with ergonomics
expertise improves accuracy and reliability and enhances the
efforts of experienced ergonomics professionals. Now ergonomics
team members of all experience levels can quickly and easily
achieve expert-level results.”
The new model is the culmination of years long collaboration
between Machine Learning experts from Velocity and the University
of Michigan, Rutgers University and the University of Toronto,
biomechanical academic researchers from the University of
Cincinnati, and Velocity’s team of the most trusted certified
professional ergonomists (CPEs) in the industry. Bringing it to
market involved:
- Analyzing 500+ videos, 7 million
images
- 1000+ hours of manual testing for
accuracy
- Conducting quality review by
Velocity’s 20+ certified professional ergonomists
- Extensive real-world testing with
customers
Modeling the movements of the human body in 3D means Velocity’s
already best-in-class MSD risk assessment sets a new standard for
quality and comprehensiveness. It incorporates the automated
scoring of wrist postures, side bending, back twisting, and data
for body regions that are blocked or obstructed from view. The new
model was trained on an internally developed dataset of the most
common occupation tasks, including assembly, lifting, lowering,
pushing, and pulling.
“MSDs in the wrists are among the most common and costly.
Accurately measuring this risk is difficult, even for trained
ergonomists, and until now had to be done manually. Automating this
process ensures consistently high-quality data and reduces the need
for long hours of training your ergonomics team members to quantify
difficult and highly variable tasks,” said Blake McGowan, CPE, and
Solution Executive for Ergonomics at Velocity. “It is 50% more
accurate at quantifying body segment angles than the previous
version and captures 100% of data and scoring for elbows,
shoulders, back, and neck, even when segments are temporarily
hidden.”
Velocity’s update includes an Interactive Posture Risk Timeline
that visualizes the moments of highest risk to ensure more
effective analysis of the direct causes of MSD risk. Expertise
embedded in the software helps users choose the right controls to
address issues before they contribute to an MSD. Now EHS managers
and ergonomics teams can more efficiently and effectively engage
employees in the job improvement process and ensure accountability
for implementing corrective actions.
“If a company is serious about reducing MSD risk, this is where
you start,” said Matt Airhart, CEO of Velocity. “Our first 2D model
allowed customers to assess MSD risk at scale using AI Computer
Vision, so you could identify and mitigate risk faster and more
accurately than ever before. This update blows our first iteration
away. For people on the front lines, it has the potential to be
life changing.”
Current Velocity Ergonomics customers will have the same easy
work flow they are accustomed to, with the updates taking effect
automatically. Users simply upload a video of a worker doing a
task, taken with any digital device, and the software takes care of
the rest.
To learn more about Velocity’s Research Team, their critical
breakthroughs with ML, recent patents and publications, check out
the May 2024 press release entitled VelocityEHS Earns 5 AI Patents
and Publishes in Nature. For more information about Velocity’s new
3D model for motion capture and Industrial Ergonomics Solutions,
visit HYPERLINK "http://www.EHS.com"
hwww.ehs.com/solutions/ergonomics.
www.ehs.com/solutions/ergonomics.
About VelocityEHS
Relied on by more than 10 million users worldwide to drive
operational excellence and achieve outstanding outcomes,
VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS &
ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform is the
definitive gold standard, delivering best-in-class software
solutions for managing Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management,
Contractor Management, Operational Risk, ESG and Environmental
Compliance.
The VelocityEHS team includes unparalleled industry expertise,
with more certified experts in health, safety, industrial hygiene,
ergonomics, sustainability, the environment, AI, and machine
learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized by the
EHS industry’s top independent analysts as a Leader in the
Verdantix 2023 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS is committed to
industry thought leadership and to accelerating the pace of
innovation through its software solutions and vision. Its privacy
and security protocols, which include SOC2 Type II attestation, are
among the most stringent in the industry.
VelocityEHS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with
locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville,
Ontario; London, England; Perth, Western Australia; and Cork,
Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com.
VelocityEHS Media ContactBrad
Harbaugh312.881.2855bharbaugh@ehs.com